Best Engineering-Related Fields Degrees in Illinois by ROI
Colleges in Illinois ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Illinois
2
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$1,443,742
Across Illinois programs
Average Annual Cost
$59,969
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Northwestern University
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$2,170,472 | $159,304 | $87,804 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Grad rate: 84.8% |
+$717,012 | $81,064 | $32,134 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Engineering-Related Fields Degrees by State
Browse Engineering-Related Fields programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.